Welcome to Bradley County, Tennessee - Bradley County, TN Official Site

County Mayor, D. Gary Davis

Welcomes You To Bradley County, Tennessee

Bradley County Mission Statement

Bradley County is committed to providing a safe, clean and progressive community for its citizens through the development and implementation of effective programs which are managed with the highest degree of efficiency. Our focus is to maximize the quantity and quality of services and programs while minimizing the financial contribution of taxpayers.

Implementation of Mayors’ Coalition on Care gets Underway

Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis and Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland have launched an initiative to assist in providing a more efficient way of using the available charitable resources within our community. It is called The Mayors’ Coalition on Care.

Mayor Davis noted that there are more than 200 non-profit charitable organizations in Cleveland/Bradley County. However, "a recent survey by the United Way showed that about 50 percent of the citizens who need assistance don’t know what’s available or how to find out,” Davis Said.

Mayor Tom Rowland emphasized that the Mayors’ Coalition is not a hand out. "Rather, the goal of the Mayors’ Coalition on Care is to bring the care-giving agencies and those needing assistance together.”

Both Mayors agreed that the recession is putting a squeeze on charitable agencies’ resources, which are already limited. Yet they are faced with more and more people in need. Hopefully, "our city and county governments can promote a centralized Coalition on Care that will act as a clearing house for all agencies in our community. The goal is to maximize our services by mutual networking” Mayor Rowland said. Mayor Davis emphasized that "the focus is to build a support program to ensure that those who are in need in our community know what services are available to help them.”

The Mayors’ Coalition on Care will operate in partnership with The Leonard Center which will provide office space and a coalition coordinator at no cost to taxpayers. Both Mayors expressed gratitude to local businessman Johnny Holden for providing $2,500 in seed money to get the initiative off the ground.

William Lamb, director of The Leonard Center said the office will also serve as a care provider to the charitable agencies, assisting them with volunteer recruitment, grant research etc. There will also be a focus on assisting agencies with shared resources. For example, "when an agency has excess goods, such as food or clothing, the coalition coordinator can help evenly distribute the goods to others,” Lamb said.

The Mayors said that when the Coalition is fully operational, the coordinator will be available by phone which will increase the care efforts in Cleveland and Bradley County. Citizens will be able to call to report someone in need or a person needing assistance can call to find out what help is available.

While the Mayors’ Coalition on care is not yet fully operational, Opportunities to assist those in need have already surfaced. Recently, County Building Inspector Tina Bishop found a severe case of need during one of her inspections. Bishop happened upon an elderly man living alone, with no running water, no air conditioning, and electricity to just a portion of his house. The roof was leaking and the ceilings in two of the rooms had fallen in. Through the coalition, volunteers and care agencies were able to stabilize the man’s home and provide other assistance. Both Mayors commended several volunteers from Life Care Center of Cleveland who provided a window air conditioning unit, a refrigerator, food, and cleaned his home.

Mayor Rowland said "this is a good example of how we want the Coalition on Care to operate. The City and County Governments could not provide the care needed in this case. But, we were able to take the initiative in getting this individual’s needs met.”

"This is a great example of how citizens in Cleveland and Bradley County respond to their neighbors’ plight,” Mayor Davis said. "We live in a very caring community and the Mayor’s Coalition on Care is just a reflection of what is already here.”

Bradley County is a Tennessee Three-Star Community meeting a high level of benchmarks established by the State Department of Economic Development. Our community’s industrial and economic base is enhanced by an outstanding quality of life.

Located between Chattanooga and Knoxville on I-75, Bradley County is in the middle of one of nature’s most beautiful playgrounds. Just 20 minutes away is the Beautiful Ocoee River and the site of the Whitewater Venue in the 1996 Olympics. Visitors have come to know Bradley County as the gateway to the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Hiwassee River is the first designated State Scenic River in Tennessee. The Hiwassee offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities such as canoeing, fishing, hiking and nature photography as well as skiing, boating and camping on some sections of the river.

Bradley County’s unique history includes the home of the Cherokee Nation who’s last Eastern Capitol is now known as Red Clay State Historical Park. It is an interpreted site certified by the National Trail of Tears Association and stands as a reminder of the spot where they were notified of their tragic journey ahead.

There are significant Civil War sites in Bradley County and two Gateway markers explain why President Abraham Lincoln placed a high priority upon capturing and controlling the railroad in the County Seat of Cleveland. This would enable union troops to control the supply lines to the looming battle in Chattanooga in November of 1863.

However, the 100,000 plus residents of Bradley County are not stuck in the past. We enjoy our history but look to the future with energy and anticipation. Our outstanding quality of life is enhanced by two institutions of higher learning and a thriving industrial community. The seasonal climate, major transportation advantages, diversified economy and traditional family values combine to make Bradley County the ideal place to live, work, raise a family and even retire.

Explore what we have to offer and you will find a warm, friendly community rich in
history, yet characterized by progress. We are confident you will agree with our Chamber of Commerce which is fond of saying that Bradley County, Cleveland and Charleston are "in the middle of it all. Come see us!